Profile
Cycling Background
 I
have been a keen cyclist for almost 15 years. I used to play
county-league squash and initially I enjoyed cycling as a relaxing
leisure pursuit to help with fitness for squash. As a member
of the Cyclists’ Touring Club I toured extensively in
the UK and completed Land’s End to John O’Groats
in 1995. From there it was an obvious step to progress to the
Alps, the Pyrenees and the Dolomites, completing various ‘raids’ and
challenges and gaining a wealth of experience in those vast
giants of mountains. My toughest challenge was in 2002 when
I completed all the mountain climbs of the Tour de France in
the same time-scale as the pros. This included riding that
year’s Etape du Tour stage on the last day in Gold Standard
time without the advantage of closed roads!
I have been a member of the Beacon Roads Cycling
Club for ten years and I am very involved in club life. I have
organised Audax events, helped to promote time-trials and I
am involved in the club’s Go-Ride programme working to
encourage school children in cycling. I am especially concerned
with the low participation of women in cycling and have promoted
a series of time trials for women in 2007.
Racing
 I
began cycle racing in 1998, riding in road races and on the
track, as well as time-trialling. I liked time-trialling the
best but, to be quite honest, I wasn’t terribly good
at it. Always a sprinter on the sports field at school, and
never excelling in endurance running events, I always assumed
I simply didn’t have what it takes to be a ‘tester’.
However, in 2003, I unexpectedly improved
my time for 50 miles in the Shirley Roads Club event and I
suddenly saw a glimmer of possibility that I might be able
to improve. I began to train in earnest, working hard to understand
the underlying concepts behind the fitness I wanted and figuring
out the best way to structure my training. Little by little
I improved and my excitement and fascination with fitness and
training grew as I turned each experiment in training into
success.
I have now won eight individual National Time
Trial Championship medals at distances from 25 to 100 miles.
In 2005 I was the British Best All-Rounder and the National
50 and National 100 Mile Champion.
Away from cycling
I have an academic scientific background,
with a doctorate in semiconductor physics from Nottingham University.
I am also a qualified teacher, with three years of physics
and maths teaching experience. I worked for three years as
a production planner at Cadbury in Bournville and most recently
I spent six years working as a supply chain manager for the
telecommunications company Marconi.
Coaching
 I
have always ‘coached’ myself. Whether I’ve
needed endurance for a 200km Audax ride, strength for the gruelling
climb of Mont Ventoux or speed for a local 10-mile time-trial,
I have planned and scheduled my preparation and training for
my specific goals. This has involved working on not only my
cycling fitness and skills but also every aspect of my lifestyle,
for example diet, nutrition and work/life balance. I’ve
won races while working in an extremely stressful management
position, so I fully understand the problem of fitting training
into a busy life.
I have learnt a great deal in reaching a high
level of performance and I really enjoy passing on what I have
learnt to others. I am a qualified coach with the Association
of British Cycling Coaches and I hold the British Cycling Level
2 Certificate in Coaching Cycling. I also have experience of
giving talks and speeches about cycling and training.
I am delighted to be able to help others to
achieve their potential, to enjoy cycling and to gain health,
fitness and inspiration through a wonderful sport. |
